Car wash customers choose between Walker, Barrett

As Wisconsin residents watch poll numbers in the recall race for governor, an unofficial poll being taken on two sides of Madison is a wash.

The poll is arguably the cleanest election you'll find, allowing people to participate voluntarily and anonymously and, so far, it's a toss up.

Those who drive up to two Magic Car Wash locations, in Madison and Middleton, are faced with a choice: supporting Democrat Tom Barrett or Republican Gov. Scott Walker.

The car wash tallies votes each day and posts them on their signs off Pflaum Road and Parmenter Street, and so far each candidate is winning a location.

"Our customers predicted Obama's win. They predicted Walker's last win, but this time I think it's going to be different because, with two locations, one side is favoring Walker and one side is now favoring Barrett by a huge margin," said owner Dan Foor.

Foor said he started the car wash poll in 2008 during the presidential election after getting deluged with robo calls and phone polls.

"The surveys are so lopsided, I said, 'Somebody should do an anonymous one,'" said Foor.

Thus started the "wash n vote," which seems to surprise and amuse just about every customer in line.

"I just posted on Facebook that it was quite silly," said Jennifer Grimes of Madison.

Customers have been taking their civic responsibility quite seriously. Asked if they would wait at the car wash to support their preferred candidate, voters on both sides said yes.

"Of course, you got to be truthful about it," said Johnny White of Madison, who was supporting Walker.

"I want Scott Walker out, why else?" said Cynthia Hemp, who said she is a state employee and is supporting Barrett.

Foor said he thinks the poll is honest because customers simply choose a line and aren't being pushed either way. He said the car wash poll will continue right up through Election Day on June 5.

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